Chronicles of the West

Sorry guys had my pre-op today and so was a little busy. Here's one chapter though. Enjoy.

Chapter Sixty Eight

Ryu eyed his female carefully. She stood, silent and pondering on the balcony of her rooms. Closing the door softly behind him, he closed them in the privacy of the stone walls. The scent of sadness and unrest curled around her like a shrouding vine.

I t left him feeling helpless and useless, his one desire was to find the source of her unhappiness and give it a swift and bloody end. She'd been this way since her meeting with Taima. What had occurred when he'd left them and their teasing?

Silvana was aware of his presence, a soft thrum of youki behind her. She knew he sensed her sorrow and she longed to accept the comfort of his arms, his words, his strength. The fact was she could not allow herself to be so selfish as that.

Taima's words tumbled through her mind like a pounding waterfall. They could be, but not yet. What did that mean? The air shifted betraying Ryu's movements. She felt his hands push her hair to the side and his hot breath on the back of her neck, before he pressed a chaste kiss there.

His arms slid around her, pulling her back against his chest, his eyes joining hers in the silent watch of nothingness. His body warm and solid, real against hers. Her head rested against his shoulder, her hands moving to cover his own.

"Tell me what it is that bothers you?" he asked softly, his fangs nipping her shoulder lightly. She shivered in his arms. She sighed, feeling the slight prickling at the backs of her eyes. She forced them back, tears served no purpose.

"The future" she admitted softly. His silver ears flickered atop his head, and he pressed his lips against her temple, his long silver braid falling over her shoulder. "Tell me" he urged. She gave a small bubble of mirthless laughter, and shook her head.

Ryu turned her in his arms and caught her chin with his fingertips, forcing their eyes to meet. "There is nothing you need hide from me Silvana" he told her, "There is nothing that I would not do for you, nothing I would not give".

Cobalt eyes flickered from his left eye to his right, as though seeking some answer to her hidden question. "Nothing?" she asked softly. At his nod, she took a ragged breath and pressed herself against him, "Power" she told him, "I ask you to give me power". He pulled back to eye her, his confusion quite clear, "Power?".

Silvana nodded, "Better yet, let me give it to you". Golden eyes snapped wide, "What are you saying?" he demanded, "If it meant so little to me, I would have had you a long time ago Silvana. I do not want your powers. I want you". She held his gaze, silently pleading with him to understand.

"I beg you" she whispered, "Do not bind them". Ryu didn't understand. She'd agreed to this, that her powers as an elemental would remain with her always. Once they were mated and bound then he need not worry about it again. The charms would hold fast.

Was she denying him? Rejecting his heart, his love? He stepped back from her. Pain written in the golden depths. "I see" he whispered, "it’s not enough". Silvana reached for him but he pulled from her touch. "Being a hanyou…… it isn't enough for you".

Silvana's eyes went wide, and she shook her head, "Ryu, you know that isn't true" she protested, "Let me explain". He snarled at her, the sound sharp and hard, stunning her into silence. "I need to reasons from you" he spat at, "They are clear enough". Despite the pain blossoming in his chest, he turned and strode away.

Silvana called after him, but her cries fell on deaf ears. The hanyou ached, the woman he loved, the female he'd chosen wanted him to be more than he was. That was it. The whispers of the court had finally reached her, a demon such as herself should not be bound to a half blooded beast.

Her tears reached his ears and he growled. He had no doubt that she hurt like he did on some level. However, it was her choice and he didn't want her powers. Not even if it would keep her by his side. He'd be damned if the court was proven correct about his interest in her.

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Elda wandered the moonlit gardens, feeling miserable and alone. The hope of becoming Toga's bride waned with each passing day. All of her attempts to see him had failed and he refused to come to her. Aside from that, she had hoped that the youkai court might turn a sympathetic eye on the woman scorned. They didn't.

There were too many eyed and ears in this place with the court assembled and while Lord Sesshoumaru had not made it known that her innocence was in question, the news trickled out anyway. The other demo nesses refused to speak with her, preferring to mutter about her as though she were some dirty thing.

The males kept their distance as well, unless they sent word that they would enjoy her company in more private settings. In the space of a few days she'd gone from hopeful would be bride to implied whore. Adus cared little about her plight, he was preoccupied with his own concerns.

She'd learned that Silvana was once promised to him and her blood had boiled. Was Adus using her to further his own gain? Exacting his revenge through her? She'd asked him and he'd laughed at her. His mockery filling her with bubbling rage. She'd lashed out at him, demanding to be sent home. Refusing to be his pawn.

Adus had not taken kindly to her outburst and he struck her, leaving her wide eyed and panting on the floor. She'd never feared her brother, never, until that moment. 'What are you doing?" she'd asked him, touching her fingertips to her bloodied lip.

Her brother had glared down at her, "You will shut your mouth bitch and do exactly as you are told. The youkai council will demand to hear both sides of the story. You have only to tell them that Toga took your innocence and you will have him and that elemental bitch will be given to me as is fitting" he'd snapped at her.

She'd shaken her head and tried to argue against it, but the cold gleam in his eyes cut her words like a blade. She'd been left alone then and time had moved like sludge. He'd stayed away from her since that time, leaving her to the mercies of the harsh rumors flying around her.

Elda had not believed that she was an evil person and she didn't want any part of this dark plotting. She wanted to go home and salvage what was left of her pride. She disliked being an outcast. Like Silvana, and yet the fox was not the target of those tongues like she was. They pitied her, that she would be bound to a hanyou.

Elda envied her. She loved that hanyou and he loved her. They could be happy, be normal. Be free. She rubbed her palms over her arms in an effort to ward off the chill that swept through her. The stars so high above her seemed to laugh at her predicament.

If only Toga would see her. She would tell him everything and throw herself at his mercy and beg to be sent home. She had enough supporters in her own lands to oust her mad brother. She might have a chance at living. But Toga would not come, not even when she'd stressed that it was most urgent.

"It is late for a lady to be out without escort" came a smooth voice, one that she hated and still didn't. Not bothering to turn she sighed, "Haven't you been listening Madu?" she snapped, "There is no lady here". Madu stepped into the ring of light, his aqua eyes never leaving her form.

"Just because a thing is said doesn't make it so" he pointed out, "I was always taught that a person is who they choose to be". She turned to look at him then, "What?" she asked. He looked up at the sky, admiring the stars.

"Have you come here to spout platitudes at me?" she asked him. He grunted, "Yup" he said, sounding very much like his father. She growled softly and turned from him, seeking the shadows of the gardens. "Why are you here?" he asked.

Elda sat on a stone bench, folding her hands in her lap, "I came because no one else was here" she admitted. Madu leaned against a sturdy tree. "Not very social are you?". She reached down and plucked a handful of pebbles from her feet.

Madu growled when a small stone hit his chest plate. "I do hear them" he said to her and the rustle of silk in the shadows ceased. "I hear everything they say". Her gaze fell from him and to the small white pebbles in her palm.

"I thought that you might like some company" he said then. She snorted, "The private sort I suppose". He bared his fangs at her, "Why are you such an unfeeling bitch?" he demanded of her and his harsh words made her fall silent.

Madu supposed that she wouldn't be answering his question and turned to leave her in the night wind. Her voice was whisper soft when it reached his ears and he paused. "It's…. it's easier that way". The handsome young wolf peered over his shoulder. The scent of salt was present on the wind.

So she wasn't such an untouchable, unfeeling bitch after all. He sat against at tree, some distance from her. "Easier?" he asked, "This is easier?". She gave a small snort, "No, not it's not" she admitted. Made detested tears, always had. He supposed he got that from his old man.

"Then what do you want?" he asked her. She sniffed lightly, "I…I just want to go home" she told him. Madu thought she sounded like a lost pup baying piteously at the moon. "So what stops you?" he asked her. He had an idea, but he wanted her to tell him. To confide in him, why, he had no idea in the seven hells.

"Adus will not let that happen. He hates Toga" she whispered, having no one to talk to for so long had weighed heavily on her. Madu knew the two shared no love. "But what has that to do with you?" he wanted to know. Elda knew she shouldn't tell him, but she was tired of carrying the pain on her own.

"The elemental, was promised to Adus long ago" she told him. Madu also knew this. But such pacts could be broken for a variety of reasons. "And he's jealous is that it?" he prodded. Elda nodded, "He is driven. He is convinced that once Toga is trapped that the council will give her back to him"

Madu tilted his head back to see the stars winking between the darkened leaves. "He loves her that much?" he asked. Elda laughed, a harsh and unbecoming sound. "Of course not. He can't stand her, he says that she is too full of pride and that when he has her he will see to that. It's her power he wants. It will make him nearly untouchable" she replied.

Madu let his eyes slide over to her, "And you are the trap for Toga" he said. She nodded slowly. Madu laughed then, making her eyes narrow on him, "What's so funny?" she snapped at him. Madu shut his eyes and smirked, "This plan is all full of holes" he told her.

She blinked, it had seemed watertight before, what was this damn wolf after anyway. Madu cocked his head to meet her gaze through the shadows. "It's only a trap if the catch springs" he explained. She blinked and he could almost see her mind working. "You are the spring Elda, so I guess that leaves you with a choice".

She shifted uncomfortably, "I don't know what to do " she muttered. Madu rose to his feet and stretched, "You do what you have to. Just remember that the only person you owe anything to is yourself. Do what you believe is right Elda" he said.

She stood as well and sighed, "And if that makes me even more unpopular?" she asked. Made grinned, "All the more reason to do it. It shows you have courage and the strength to take whatever is thrown at you. Integrity is important don't you think?" he asked.

His piece spoken, Madu turned and left the garden, at the entrance he paused just once more. "Good night Lady Elda" he said. He placed emphasis on the word lady and for once in a very long time, Elda felt some semblance of worth. She had a choice, like he said, she just wasn't certain how to choose